Cockney pilots are least comforting, survey says.

No place for cockney rhyming slang at 40,000 ft, according to air passengers

30 January 2012 • 12:00am

The traditional well-spoken pilot's voice in a clipped Home Counties accent was voted the best of all in the survey of 1,000 regular travellers for the upcoming Earl's Court Business Travel Show.

There were also a preference for certain regional accents, with the Scottish lilt taking scond place and the Republic of Ireland taking third.

The celebrity voice passengers found most reassuring was that of upper class actor Nigel Havers, followed by Sean Connery. Stephen Fry, Patrick Stewart, Hugh Grant and Ewan McGregor all made the top ten.

Cockneys came out worst, with 34 per cent of those surveyed saying it was the least reassuring accent, followed closely by the midlands accent at 25 per cent.

Despite the general regard for a Home Counties accent, 16 per cent of voters bucked the trend and said it was their least favourite.

Favourite celebrity voices saw two women in the list, Joanna Lumley and Joan Bakewell - who recently revealed she lost a regional accent to make it at the BBC.

George Clooney was the only non-British or Irish celebrity in the top ten.

Airline expert and travel writer Dave Richardson said: "There's no doubt people want to feel safe when flying, and a clipped English accent is more likely to be reassuring than a regional one.

"I remember taking an internal flight in Russia at a time when some Russian airlines had a poor safety record, but as soon as I heard an RAF-type Englishman addressing us from the cockpit, I felt fine.

"However, the growth of flying from regional airports means there is a place for regional accents, too.

"Passengers can then feel 'at home' when flying, especially if they are returning from somewhere more exotic."

Some airlines believe their pilots represent a range of accents, including Europe's largest regional airline Flybe.

A spokesman said: "Flybe prides itself on having crew that represent an extensive selection of some of the 'coolest' regional accents in Britain.

"Indeed, Flybe's Chairman and CEO, Jim French, sets the standard with one of the favourites, with a speaking style that is enhanced by a much-admired gently lilting Scottish accent.

"However, all our crew are trained to the highest professional standards and feedback from Flybe passengers is that this is the most important factor in feeling comfortable and safe - and it matters not what accent comes over the PA."

David Chapple, event director of the Business Travel Show, added: "We all love a cockney accent on EastEnders and thousands of Londoners trust cockney cabbies with their lives every day, so isn't it crazy how some people would feel unsafe if a pilot had a cockney accent?

"Clearly in the cold light of day, our pilots' accents make no difference at all, or regional airlines like Flybe wouldn't exist and we wouldn't have such a wide range of regional, national and international airlines exhibiting at the Business Travel Show."